Shaky Knees, Strong Heart

Two weeks ago, I had a sudden pain in my left knee- one that would not leave, no matter what I did. Concerned that I pinched a nerve like I had in my other knee years ago, I did my best to rest it. I put a knee brace on, occasionally taking it off to ice it. After a couple of days of this interruption in my life, I finally borrowed a set of crutches. I just could not put pressure directly on it. Should I have gone to a doctor? Maybe. Did I? No. A good friend brought me over some all-natural pain patches. Those I was willing try. As you may know by now, I am not a fan of medication, so the all-natural Class 1 Medical Device patches appealed to me. They brought enough relief that I was able to be off the crutches by the next day and I thought I was good to go. (I am grateful to my family for not making goat noises while I painfully gimped around the house.)

Two days ago, I went for a walk- a little over a mile. Everything was fine. That evening, I pushed things a bit and went for a... gulp... jog. Not my brightest moment, that was for sure. I barely covered half a mile when the pain decided to come back full force. Sigh.

Yesterday, things were feeling rather fine until my dog decided to walk next to me and knock me off balance. When I tried to catch myself from falling, I stepped down hard on my left leg, causing the pain to shoot through my knee like a lightening bolt zaps an evergreen. Thankfully, my hubby caught me before I could totally fall to the ground.

As I have been feeling things out for my future goal of running a marathon, my kind husband pointed out that with my knee struggles (that I have had problems with since my childhood) perhaps I should plan on walking the marathon, instead of running it. I told him pointedly that walking it would take too long. He patiently replied that running it may be putting too much pressure on my knee and I am risking serious damage to it. I wondered how long it would take to walk a marathon.

On Sunday morning, I was studying what members of my Church call "The Lord's Law of Health" or "The Word of Wisdom." Especially since my diagnosis and since my one year "heartiversary" is approaching, I have been particularly interested in strengthening my newly functioning heart. In a sacred blessing I was once given, I was promised that if I live the Lord's Law of Health, my body would function properly and I would be able to overcome the illnesses and sickness that I would experience in this life. This makes me rejoice! With a little time and a little more recovery, I know my heart can withstand the marathon. What about my knees, though? They are rather shaky these days!

I have decided to trust in the blessings of God and move forward with this marathon goal. I am going to research out knee-strengthening exercises and focus on making them strong. Once I do that, I know I can do this! It will not be this year as I originally planned, as I am learning to slow down and proceed with caution, but I will accomplish my goal! I may have shaky knees now, but my heart is strong and like the Lord provided a way for my heart to be healed, so He shall with my knees.

My name is Jenny McKinney. My heart is strong and I really want some chocolate! (It's breakfast time. I wonder if I can find some around here.)

New Year JOG!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Isn't it wonderful- to have a whole year to improve before the next one rolls around? Isn't it GREAT to have a whole new year to reach your potential? I LOVE having a new year!

Today, I did something I was not expecting to do just yet. For the first time in four years.... I jogged. I JOGGED!!! I was going up the incline and thought, "Why not? You've gotta try sometime!" So there I went- jogging! I remembered my jogging posture and went about 20 yards before I started walking again. WOW! That felt AMAZING! Because it felt so amazing, I decided to try it again! I walked about 30 yards, then started jogging again! I heard a vehicle approaching, so I looked to make sure I was not too close to its path when I heard, "You can do it! WOOO!!!" It was my HUSBAND! How cute is that?!?! I yelled at him,
     "I'm jogging! I'm jogging! I'm really doing it!" all while passing the mark I had set as my goal. As I jogged and he drove, we chatted.
     "How does it feel?" he asked with a big smile on his face.
     "It feels AMAZING!" I enthusiastically responded. Do you know what? It did feel great! I continued doing the walk/jog/walk/jog rhythm, paying close attention to how my heart area felt. I want to weep as I write this. For this first time in adulthood that I can recall, my heart did not hurt when I jogged! 

I cannot tell you how awe-inspiring it is to think that 6 months ago I was told my heart was failing and I needed a life-saving surgery and today I was jogging without any pain. God is so Good! He lead the medical team to save my life. He performed a miracle in me. How can I not continue on this path that He has placed me on? How can I not think of my little heart friends?

My name is Jenny McKinney. I am officially a jogger (runner?) and I do NOT want any chocolate, because I had too much last night! ;)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

    

The Miracle of my Heart- Part I

Have you ever experienced a miracle?  I am grateful that I have seen many in my life.  Last night, the Lord saw fit to grant my heart a miracle.  I want to share this whole story with you, so this will be in a two or three part post.

As a Review:
When I got my official diagnosis of ARVD, my doctor determined it was a genetic condition, because of my family history.  Although we did not run any tests to make that official, it was pretty for sure.  This put my children at a 50% risk of carrying the gene.  The plan was to get them tested so we can be prepared if they do have it.  The plan for me was to get the Electrophysiology Study done, alblate the misbehaving circuits in my heart, if they could find them, (it really is a guessing game) then implant a loop recorder, which I would wear for up to three years.  This was all to be done yesterday, then later this week I would go back to get the ICD implant, which I would wear the rest of my life.  Things did not go quite like planned.  This is the miracle.

A Few Factors:
First, let me explain that I strongly feel there are several factors to the miracle taking place.  To do this, I need to share a bit of history I have not before, because it is so deeply personal that I did not think it proper to share publicly.  If I am to use my life to bring glory and honor to God, then I feel that it is now the right time to share this.  You can believe this or not, but I speak only the truth and this is my story.

Back in November, I was in my studio (aka- garage) working on selecting music for my songbook I was putting together, when I had a wonderful experience.  This is not the kind of experience that is normal to all, but it is quite common in my life.  I was prompted by the Holy Ghost to began getting my music and other affairs in order.  There was very specific instruction given and I was told that if things continued as they were going with my heart, I would not be here very long.  Specifically, I would have maybe 2 years to live.  If I found a way to get my heart under control, I would be here longer, but still not as long as I want to be.  (There was much more to it, but this is the basic info.) With that news, I collapsed to the floor, weeping.  I knew I had to do something, but what?  A few minutes later, my hubby came home from work and we talked about this revelation and prayed together.  We knew that if we did all we could on our end, the Lord would allow me to be here to see my children raised- at least a while longer.  I decided I would take whatever time I could get and live my life to the best I could, making memories with my family and bringing glory to my Heavenly Father and Savior. You can read what happened next here.

The Miracle Formula:

Personal fast and prayer is part of the miracle. Through the promptings of the Spirit, we have known what to do seemingly every step of the way.  As I began going through the testing, I was fasting and praying about the right course of treatment to take.  It was told to me very clearly that if the doctors told me I needed to get any kind of procedure done, I was to do it.  So when I got to Utah and was told I needed these life saving procedures, I knew I could not argue it.  We scheduled for August 12.

Great nutrition has played a major key in the miracle; not just any nutrition, though.: Lunarich nutrition.  During these months, I was introduced to this product that I absolutely 100% am convinced changed the outcome of my heart procedure.  Again, this is only one ingredient in the
Miracle Formula, but definitely a big part of it.  Remember when the doc said this was genetic?  Basically, this product makes negative genes no longer function and wakes up positive, healthy genes.  So when you hear about what he said after surgery, this is why I believe he was lead to his decision.

YOU are the other part of the Miracle Formula.  I had friends of every age, all over the world, fasting and/or praying for me.  That was you!  It was because of those prayers, because of your unwavering faith, that I am absolutely sure caused the miracle to happen.  For that, I will always love you.  I will always be grateful.

Of course, the other part of the formula was the guided, prompted hands of the doctors and nurses that treated my heart.  I know if Dr. B had not combined his expertise with spiritual guidance, things could have been a lot different.

The Waiting Game:
I was scheduled to be at the hospital at 11:30 am.  I was prepped for the procedure fairly quickly and we thought I would be in the lab (aka the heart and lung operating room) by 12:30.  My mom and I (She stayed with me the whole day. Love my mom!) were updated every 20-30 minutes, making us aware there was a bit of a wait.  The patient in the lab before me, also under Dr. B's skilled hands, was having some complications.  They kept finding something else wrong with her heart and had to fix it while she was in there.  Who was I to complain?  I pray they were able to mend her heart. 

Meanwhile, I looked over the paperwork with my nurse and the orders said I was to have all the procedures done that day.  This included: the Electrophysiology Study (heart cath), ablation, the loop recorder implanted, and the ICD implant (which I originally was told would be later in the week, remember.)  A bit unsure as to what to prep me for, Nurse Patti called Dr. B in the lab.  He said to prep me for everything.  You see, the study we knew for sure was going to happen.  Then, IF they could find the misbehaving circuit, they would fix it by ablating it, which would reroute the electricity in my heart.  They also were going to implant a loop recorder under my skin.  This device would allow them to see all of my heart comings and goings.  The final procedure would be the ICD, but until we got into the lab, we would not know for sure if I was going to get it that day.  However, when he said to prep me and have me plan on staying overnight, I knew I was going to be going home the next day with a device permanently implanted in my chest.  I realized that if this is what he felt he was to do, it was what the Lord wanted for me, to keep me here.  I was at peace with that. 

It was nice to have the day with my mom, but really, she needed to put her feet up and I wanted to have it all done with.  I am not a patient person, but at least the nurses and aides were fabulous and the bed was super comfy.  However, fasting 6 hours before my time to go in, then having another 5 hours added to that fast was not the easiest thing in the world to do.  (Ah well!  It's over and done and I have eaten plenty since then!)  It was finally 4:30pm before I got wheeled into the lab.  When I left the house that morning, my little girl (6 years) ran outside and yelled, "Go get your heart fixed... and bring us presents!!"  I informed the medical staff in the lab of her instructions to fix my heart.  They said that is what they intended to do.  Yay!  Here we go!  My heart was about the be in their hands.

My name is Jenny McKinney.  The story is about to get amazing and I really do want some chocolate.

The Miracle of my Heart- Part II

The Need for a Miracle

Several years ago, my very dear friend, Jonathan Roberts, wrote a song called "Miracles Happen."  That song profoundly changed my life.  I believe in miracles and I know one will come.  I fully expect it to.

When we moved here to Utah, it was with the understanding that my heart doc in Idaho would be calling with some test results.  When she called, we had no way of being prepared for what she had to say- that I had a heart condition that could "absolutely be life-threatening" and that I would need a procedure, if not more than one, in order to save my life.  At the time, my husband had landed two jobs that we planned on him keeping- as long as the hours worked out for both.  After a couple of weeks, we learned that it would not be possible for him to keep working both jobs.  After a great deal of discussion and prayerfully weighing the pros and cons of both jobs, he decided to keep the one that would give him more hours, and benefits.  It was not until a few weeks later, after my appointment to learn about my upcoming procedures, that we learned the benefits the job offers were all but a joke.  Not only will they not cover the procedures I need, the life-saving procedures, they will only cover $1000 per year for hospital coverage.  Yes, I did type that correctly.  One-thousand dollars!  Oy vey!  That does not even begin to touch the frustration level I have right now.

For my two upcoming procedures, the hospital portion of it alone will be $20,000.  This does not include the actual device, the surgeon's portion, the pay for the anesthesiologist, medications, etc.  (When my dad got this same surgery two years ago, his hospital bill was $50,000!!)  Again, Oy vey.  I am looking into other health insurance options, but right now, what I need is a miracle.

I am a firm believer in miracles.  I have experienced many of them in my life, from my babies surviving at birth, to miracles being pulled off for my musical endeavors, plus many more.  I know that because we (my hubby and I) are living the very best life we can, doing all that we can to make the best of choices, we are going to get our miracle and a way will be provided for me to get these necessary surgeries.  Seeing how my first one is scheduled two weeks from today, I know the miracle will come soon.

For those of you who have not yet learned about ARVD, I am at great risk for cardiac arrest.  I am too busy and have too much to accomplish before I die, so this simply is not an option.  I am asking for you to join our family in prayer that a way will be provided for us to have the financial miracle necessary to get these surgeries done.  I have seen what happens when many people pull together for a cause.  I know that with loved ones praying for this special purpose, we will get our miracle.

My name is Jenny McKinney.  I really don't want any chocolate this morning, but I will get my miracle.